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Wizards need to get Spencer Dinwiddie back to player he was early in year

By Chase Hughes

Wizards need to get Spencer Dinwiddie back on track originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

When the Wizards loaded up on depth this past offseason and went away from the top-heavy payroll that defined their roster in recent years, the idea was that they would be less reliant on individual players. Through the first few weeks of this season, that played out accordingly, as they overcame injuries and off-nights from their top scorers.

But over the last month or so, they have come to realize just how important it is for them to have Spencer Dinwiddie playing well. He’s their starting point guard, their first line of both offense and defense. And when he goes, they go.

His trajectory this season has perfectly mirrored the Wizards’ as a team. When they began the year 10-3, he averaged 17.0 points and 6.0 assists while shooting 42.9% from the field and 37.7% from three. In their last 15 games, which they have lost 10, he has averaged just 9.3 points and 4.3 assists while shooting 33.3% overall and 27.8% from deep.

Though it’s a perfect correlation, that is not to suggest he has been their only problem. In fact, there are many things they need to fix. But as their starting point guard, clearly his play makes a difference in whether they win or lose.

Head coach Wes Unseld Jr. seems to see Dinwiddie’s struggles partly through the prism of his developing chemistry with star shooting guard Bradley Beal, who has also played below his usual standards to start this season.

“We have to find a way to get those two on the same page and get them both aggressive and playing well on the offensive end. That’s been a struggle for us,” Unseld Jr. said.

“I think it’s something that we’ve really gotta hone in on and figure out because they are two of our best players. We need them both playing at a high level and the best version of themselves.”

There’s no question Beal and Dinwiddie have struggled together. They have a -7.2 net rating as a duo across 403 minutes. Lineups with those two have a 98.7 offensive rating and 105.9 defensive rating.

Dinwiddie, 28, is coming off of a major injury, which may be part of the equation. He had surgery to repair a partially torn ACL in January and is only about 11 months removed from the procedure. He just happened to start the season really well, then go through some growing pains, instead of the other way around.

Even Unseld Jr. admitted it’s confusing the way things have played out.

“That’s the season in general, there can be lulls in how everyone plays. I’m hoping this is just a brief lull for him and we can get him back on track. But there’s really no significant [differences] as far as [defensive] coverage or even what we’re running, so it’s kind of a mystery,” Unseld Jr. said.

You can see in the numbers that Dinwiddie isn’t quite back to playing the style that suited him before his injury. This season, he is shooting a career-low percentage of field goal attempts within three feet of the rim (15.2%), which helps prove he’s not getting there nearly as often as he used to when he was thriving with the Brooklyn Nets. That is coupled by the fact he’s a career 31.9% three-point shooter.

Dinwiddie is also averaging just 2.9 free throw attempts per game, far below the 7.0 free throws he took on average in 2019-20, his last healthy season in Brooklyn. Though the NBA is enforcing foul rules differently this season, that alone doesn’t explain the drop-off.

Unseld Jr. expressed confidence Dinwiddie can get to the rim whenever he wants, that it’s a matter of doing so at the right time with the right spacing and at the proper angle. The Wizards head coach believes the pick-and-roll is the key to getting Dinwiddie downhill, which is when he’s at his best.

Beal says he and Dinwiddie can help each other out in that regard.

“I think just us both being aggressive. That’s pretty much all I can point to. Whether it’s us scoring or us play-making, we’ve gotta play a little bit faster,” he said.

Dinwiddie’s play isn’t the sole reason for the Wizard’s recent losing, but he was a significant cause for their success early this season. They need to find out how to bring that guy back.

Wes Unseld Jr. on what Wizards need from point guard position

By Chase Hughes
Unseld Jr. on what Wizards need from PG position originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonWASHINGTON -- After the Wizards traded Spencer Dinwiddie to the Mavericks at the trade deadline, it became immediately clear the team will have a need at point guard entering this offseason. Team president Tommy Sheppard confirmed the obvious in his post-deadline press conference, that point guard will be a priority in the summer.It's a relatively unfamiliar problem for the franchise, which enjoyed stability at that spot for many years between John Wall and then Russell Westbrook. And it will be interesting to see which way they end up addressing the need, whether it be through the draft, a trade or free agency, and also what type of point guard they seek.Head coach Wes Unseld Jr. was asked about that last part before the Wizards' win over the Lakers on Saturday. He shared a general philosophy about the point guard position that could shed light on their summer plans."I don’t think you need any old-school point guard, but you do need a guy that understands the flow of the game, who can play beyond just getting your offense orchestrated. Get guys set, get them in the right spots. Kind of feel it," Unseld Jr. explained."Who’s got a game going, who needs a shot, who has a match-up advantage? All those details, I don’t know, those aren’t things you can necessarily teach. Guys can get better in those areas, but I think some guys just have that knack and ability, they have a feel."Asked some follow-up questions after Wednesday's practice, Unseld Jr. essentially said the ideal point guard for his offense is someone who can distribute the ball in an effective way, perhaps rather than looking for their own shots. That contrast may already be seen from the Wizards this season, as Dinwiddie was more of a scoring guard and they have essentially replaced him (and Aaron Holiday) in the rotation with Ish Smith and Tomas Satoransky.Particularly since Smith arrived in a trade deadline deal with the Hornets, the Wizards have seen an uptick in offensive efficiency. Before his debut on Feb. 12, they were 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating (108.1), and since they have ranked 13th (114.1). That said, they have also simultaneously taken a step backward defensively, going from 22nd in efficiency (111.7) to 29th (118.2).As for the offense, it's difficult to tell how much Smith and Satoransky deserve credit for that, as it has coincided with a breakthrough for the Wizards in 3-point shooting. Since the deadline, they are second in the league shooting 39.1% from deep after ranking 28th before the deadline at 32.3%. Certainly, though, Smith's speed and ability to dribble into the defense has helped the cause overall. Those elements have had a positive effect on other players, like center Daniel Gafford with whom he has formed a strong pick-and-roll connection. Smith has a tendency to set him up with accurate lob passes around the rim.Smith happens to like playing the role of a traditional, floor general point guard."I tell people all the time. There's a lot of guys masquerading as point guards," Smith said. "There just is because it's a thinking man's job. Sometimes people get frustrated and they [want to score], but look at Chris Paul. He's a throwback point guard and he's got Phoenix rolling,"Smith is under contract with the Wizards next season, though the deal is partially guaranteed. Satoransky and Raul Neto, their current starter at point guard, are both due to be free agents. Some collection of them could return, though likely as back-ups. It seems likely, if not certain, the Wizards will add a starting-caliber point guard this summer.However they find one, what Unseld Jr. said about the position could be kept in mind in the meantime. He seems to want someone who has an excellent feel for setting others up. Bringing some defense to the equation probably wouldn't hurt, either, of course.
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